# Junya Sato

Junya Satō (佐藤 純彌, Satō Jun'ya, 6 November 1932 – 9 February 2019) was a Japanese film director and screenwriter.
His son, Tōya Satō (佐藤 東弥, Satō Tōya), is also a film director.

## Career

Born in Tokyo, Satō graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1956 with a degree in French literature. He joined the Toei studio and worked as an assistant to such directors as Tadashi Imai and Miyoji Ieki. He debuted as a director in 1963 with Rikugun Zangyaku Monogatari, for which he won a best newcomer's award at the Blue Ribbon Awards. While starting in mostly yakuza film, Satō eventually became known for big budget spectaculars. The Go Masters, a China-Japan co-production he co-directed with Duan Jishun, won the grand prize at the Montreal World Film Festival in 1983. He won the Japan Academy Prize for Director of the Year in 1989 for The Silk Road.
Sato died in Tokyo on 9 February 2019.

## Filmography

| Year | Japanese Title | English Title | Notes |
| 1963 | 陸軍残虐物語 Rikugun Zangyaku Monogatari | | |
| 1963 | 続・王将 Zoku Ōshō | | |
| 1964 | 廓育ち Kuruwa Sodachi | | |
| 1966 | 愛欲 Aiyoku | | |
| 1967 | 組織暴力 Soshiki Bōryoku | The Private Police | |
| 1967 | 続組織暴力 Zoku Soshiki Bōryoku | | |
| 1968 | 荒野の渡世人 Kōya no Toseinin | The Drifting Avenger | |
| 1969 | 日本暴力団 組長と刺客 Nihon Bōryokudan: Kumichō to Shikaku | Japan's Most Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killer | also co-wrote screenplay |
| 1969 | 組織暴力 兄弟盃 Soshiki Bōryoku: Kyōdai Sakazuki | Organized Violence | |
| 1969 | 旅に出た極道 Tabi ni Deta Gokudō | | |
| 1970 | 日本ダービー 勝負 Nihon Derby Shōbu | | also co-wrote screenplay |
| 1970 | 最後の特攻隊 Saigo no Tokkōtai | | |
| 1971 | 博徒斬り込み隊 Bakuto Kirikomitai | | also co-wrote screenplay |
| 1971 | 暴力団再武装 Bōryokudan Sai Busō | | |
| 1972 | ギャング対ギャング 赤と黒のブルース Gang tai Gang: Aka to Kuro no Blues | Gang vs. Gang: The Red and Black Blues | also wrote screenplay |
| 1972 | やくざと抗争 実録安藤組 Yakuza to Kōsō: Jitsuroku Andō-gumi | | also co-wrote screenplay |
| 1973 | 実録 私設銀座警察 Jitsuroku: Shisetsu Ginza Keisatsu | True Account of Ginza Tortures | |
| 1973 | Golgo 13 Gorugo Sātīn | | |
| 1973 | 実録安藤組 襲撃篇 Jitsuroku Andō-gumi: Shūgekihen | The Ando File | |
| 1974 | ルバング島の奇跡 陸軍中野学校 Rubangu-tō no Kiseki: Rikugun Nakano Gakkō | | |
| 1975 | 新幹線大爆破 Shinkansen Daibakuha | The Bullet Train | also co-wrote screenplay |
| 1976 | 君よ噴怒の河を渉れ Kimi yo Fundo no Kawa o Watare | Manhunt | |
| 1977 | 人間の証明 Ningen no Shōmei | Proof of the Man | |
| 1978 | 野性の証明 Yasei no Shōmei | Never Give Up | |
| 1980 | 遙かなる走路 Haru Kanaru Sōro | | |
| 1980 | 甦れ魔女 Yomigaere Majo | | |
| 1982 | 未完の対局 Mikan no Taikyoku | The Go Masters | |
| 1983 | 人生劇場 Jinsei Gekijō | Theater of Life | also co-wrote screenplay |
| 1984 | 空海 Kūkai | | |
| 1986 | 植村直己物語 Uemura Naomi Monogatari | Lost in the Wilderness | also co-wrote screenplay |
| 1988 | 敦煌 Tonkō | The Silk Road | also co-wrote screenplay |
| 1992 | 私を抱いてそしてキスして Watashi o Daite Soshite Kiss Shite | | |
| 1992 | おろしや国酔夢譚 Oroshiyakoku Suimutan Сны о России Sny o Rossii | Kodayu or Dreams of Russia | also co-wrote screenplay |
| 1994 | 超能力者 未知への旅人 Chōnōryokusha - Michi e no Tabibito | | |
| 1997 | 北京原人 Who Are You? Pekin Genjin Who Are You? | Peking Man | |
| 2005 | 男たちの大和 Otoko-tachi no Yamato | Yamato | also wrote screenplay |
| 2010 | 桜田門外ノ変 Sakuradamon-gai no Hen | The Sakurada Gate Incident | also co-wrote screenplay |